Council's Negligence Causes £600,000 Loss for Pensioner's Cotswolds Home
A pensioner's dream home in the picturesque Cotswolds has been marred by a seven-year ordeal, leaving him trapped in a nightmare scenario. Andrew Ewart-James, 79, has lived in his beloved cottage in South Woodchester for 49 years, but a local council's blunder has cost him dearly.
The story began in 1986 when Ewart-James warned the council about a problematic retaining wall in his garden. Despite his concerns, the council only took emergency action in 2019 by installing scaffolding to prevent a car park from subsiding onto his property. This scaffolding, left in place for seven years, has now become a ticking time bomb.
The pensioner's frustration is palpable. He shares with the Daily Mail, 'I feel trapped. I am a prisoner in my own home. It's never-ending. I fear I will die before this gets sorted. I want it sorted before I die or have to go into a home.'
The council's incompetence has taken a toll on the property's value. Ewart-James estimates that without the wall issue, his home would be worth £1 million to £1.25 million. However, the scaffolding has halved its value, resulting in a staggering £600,000 loss. 'That's £600,000 gone. All because of their incompetence,' he laments.
Despite his repeated pleas for a long-term solution, the scaffolding remains, costing £368 a week to maintain. Ewart-James believes the council's negligence is costing taxpayers' money and has even posed a potential safety hazard. 'It's crazy that £100,000 of our money is being used on this. The council has not done a proper job. It's like they don't care about me,' he says.
The situation has become so dire that a structural engineer has warned of the wall's potential collapse, which could bring the scaffolding into his kitchen. Ewart-James, a widower, is desperate to sell his home and downsize, but the scaffolding has made it nearly impossible. 'It is ruining the value of my house. We worked hard all our lives. Who would live here with all of this?' he asks.
The pensioner's garden, once a relaxing haven, is now dominated by the scaffolding, making it too dangerous to spend time in. 'I'd love to relax in my garden, but it's far from relaxing. I don't go near the scaffolding, god only knows what could happen,' he says.
Ewart-James has taken legal action against the council, filing a High Court proceeding over the wall. With his wife's recent passing, he is eager to sell the property and move into a smaller home, ensuring his children receive their inheritance. 'If only they had listened to my warnings over the years. It started in 1986. I don't see it ending anytime soon. That bill will go up and up and up,' he says.
The council, however, offers a different perspective. A spokesperson claims they are committed to resolving the issue promptly, attributing delays to design disagreements with Ewart-James' structural engineer. They assure that proposals were agreed by March 2025, and they are working towards appointing contractors and scheduling the necessary works.
